Method of and a device for producing parts

ABSTRACT

For producing a part, a wire is wound so that portions of the wire extend along one another, and the portions of the wire are connected with one another, while during the winding the wire is supported so that the wire is not wound onto a support which fills it completely.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method of and a device for producing parts, in particular with the use of a wire.

It is known to produce a part by winding a wire on a support, such as for example a cylindrical support, so that convolutions or portions of the wire are wound around the support near one another, subsequently are connected with one another, for example by sintering, and then removed from the support. As a result, the part has a very high strength since it is composed of a plurality of wires. However, in the known method and the device it is necessary to provide a support on which the wire has to be wound. Therefore, if it is necessary to produce a part of a great diameter, it is necessary to have a support of a great diameter, which is inconvenient, expensive, and in many instances unacceptable because of space limitations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method of and a device for producing parts, which eliminates the disadvantages of the prior art.

In keeping with these objects and with others which will become apparent hereinafter, one feature of the present invention resides, briefly stated in a method of producing a part, comprising winding a wire so that portions of the wire extend along one another, connecting the portions of the wire with one another; and during winding of the wire supporting the wire, so that the wire is not wound on a support which completely fills it from inside but instead it is just held at least at one location.

Another feature of the present invention, resides, briefly stated, in a device for producing parts, comprising means for winding a wire so that portions of the wire extend along one another, means for connecting the portions of the wire with one another; and means for supporting the wire, so that the wire is not wound on a support which completely fills it from inside but instead it is just held at the one location.

When the method is performed and the apparatus is designed in accordance with the present invention, it is not necessary to have a support of a great diameter, since the wire is held only at one location at which successive portions of wire are wound near one another, and connected with one another.

In accordance with the another feature of the present invention, the means for winding and holding the wire can be formed as rotatable roller means which by the rotation, winds the wire and simultaneously holds it.

The connection of the wire portions with one another can be performed by any known means, such as for example welding, clamping, binding, glueing, etc.

In accordance with another important feature of the present invention, a single device is used both for winding the wires and connecting them with one another, and the winding means and connecting means are incorporated in a single apparatus.

On the other hand, the winding means and the connecting means can be formed as separate means which are spaced from one another along the wire.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the present invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view schematically illustrating a method of and an apparatus for producing parts from a wire in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view showing another embodiment of the method of and an apparatus for producing parts from a wire in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a view showing a part made of wire in accordance with the inventive method and in the inventive apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In accordance with the present invention a part which is identified as a whole with reference numeral 1 is produced from a wire, which is identified with reference numeral 2 and has a plurality of portions 3 that are formed during winding of the wire 2.

In an apparatus shown in FIG. 1 roller means are provided which are identified as a whole with reference numeral 4 and include upper rollers 5 and a lower rollers 6. The wire 2 is introduced between the rollers 5 and 6, and the rollers are driven in rotation by known means. During rotation of the rollers 5 and 6 the wire is wound forming a loop of a great diameter and so that subsequent portions of wire are arranged side-by-side with one another, preferably so as to be laterally in contact with one another.

The portions 3 of the wire 2 are then connected with one another by connecting means identified with reference numeral 7. The connecting means 7 can be of any type, for example welding means, glueing means, stapling means, squeezing means, etc. In the case of welding the wires portions 3 are welded with one another. During a rotation of the wire 2 and its wire portions 3, the connecting means 7, for example a laser welding device, provides welding of the wires with one another at a plurality of locations identified with reference numerals 8. It is to be understood that the molding can be also carried out after the rotation is finished, and the wire portions 3 are stationarily located near one another.

It is believed to be clear that with the inventive method and apparatus the wire 2 is wound and held at one or more locations defined by the rollers 5 and 6, while the loop formed by the wire 2 and the portions 3 is empty and an inner surface of the loop does not rest on a support over its whole length, in contrast to the known solutions in which the wire was wound on a solid cylindrical support which completely fills the interior of the loop.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the winding and holding means 5, 6 are separate from the connecting means 7, and arranged at different locations along the wire.

In contrast, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the holding and winding means and the connecting means are incorporated in a single device which is identified with reference numeral 9. This simplifies the apparatus since the holding and winding of the wire and the connection of the portions of the wire with one another are performed by the same apparatus at the same location.

The discs 5′ and 6′ are formed as welding electrodes. When current is supplied to them, they provide welding of the wire portions.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions and methods differing from the type described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a method and device for producing parts, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention. 

1. A method of producing a part, comprising winding a wire so that portions of the wire extend along one another, connecting the portions of the wire with one another; and during winding of the wire supporting the wire, so that the wire is not wound on a support which completely fills it from inside but instead it is just held at least at one location.
 2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said supporting includes holding the wire only on the one location, while said connecting includes connecting the portions of the wire at another location which is spaced from said one location.
 3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said supporting includes holding the wire on the one location, said connecting the portions of the wire with one another including connecting the portions of the wire substantially at the same location.
 4. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said connecting includes connecting selected from the group consisting of welding, gluing, clamping, squeezing and stapling.
 5. A device for producing parts, comprising means for winding a wire so that portions of the wire extend along one another, means for connecting the portions of the wire with one another; and means for supporting the wire, so that the wire is not wound on a support which completely fills it from inside but instead it is just held at the one location.
 6. A device as defined in claim 5, wherein said supporting means holds the wire only on one location, while said connecting means connect the portions of the wire at another location which is spaced from said one location.
 7. A device as defined in claim 5, wherein said supporting means holds the wire on one location, said connecting means connect the portions of the wire with one another substantially at the same one location.
 8. A device as defined in claim 5, wherein said connecting means includes means selected from the group consisting of welding, gluing, clamping, squeezing and stapling means. 